Get Your Pretense On!

26 • Get Your Pretense On!

his own likeness and image, could dwell in paradise, and share in the fullness of his creation’s beauty.

A Rebellious Prince Creates Chaos in the Universe In spite of God making creation and human beings perfect, his creation was thrown into chaos through the deception of a rebellious angelic prince, Satan. Through his prideful deception, and his intent to overthrow God’s Kingdom, he tempted the first human pair in the Garden. Refusing to listen to and obey the Lord’s command, they elected to rebel against God’s will – they refused to acknowledge his lordship. To humankind’s regret, Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s clear command, and rejected his good will. Through their disobedience they elected to live according to their own pride and greed, and were cast into darkness. Because of their lust for power the entire creation was cursed, and chaos now entered into God’s creation. The entire universe would be scarred and ruined by their selfish and ill-conceived fall. Separated from God and subject to death, the first human pair was banished from God’s perfect paradise. Sadly, Adam and Eve were doomed to live in creation now cursed on account of their sin. The consequences of their acts were terrible and devastating. Because of their fall, they would now be forced to end their miserable existence in physical death. All their heirs would share the same fate of doom and death, with no hope of deliverance or transformation. The Triune God Covenants to Save His Creation Thanks be to God! This horrible condition of humankind would not have the last word. Based purely on his eternal love and compassion, this great triune God covenanted to send a divine warrior for the sake of creation’s and humankind’s rescue.